Vote Results
Results of the daily online ballots that
guided the Student Ambassadors or other delegates as they
considered cultural, ethical or practical dilemmas to make real
decisions.
Looking homelessness in the face–what's the best
way to have an impact?
Jennifer wrote about encountering homeless people and poverty in China. While enjoying the privileges that traveling with an official government delegation brings, the students have seen glimpses of another side of China. They want to reach out and help.
| With the limited funds that they have along, should they: |
| |
|
Votes |
Ratio |
| Give money directly to homeless individual(s) they encounter in the street? This money could possibly change or even save that person’s life. |
 |
8 |
28% |
| Give money to a charity that helps homeless people–perhaps their money can go to help more than one person |
 |
21 |
72% |
| 29 votes
total |
|
The Right to Piracy! New release
DVD's for $1.00!
Intellectual property theft in China cost moviemakers, software companies and music labels $2.5 billion last year alone – making a tangible impact on the U.S. trade deficit. In fact, the problem of piracy of DVDs, software and CDs has prompted the U.S. Trade Representative's office to put China on a priority watch list. Intellectual property remains a top issue in U.S. government talks with China. This is a topic that has been discussed during our visit.
Based on the previous vote results, the students took a little bit of time to play "hooky" this morning in Shanghai. As they shopped, they stopped in a DVD store and found new releases for $1! Great price, great gifts for family and friends back home. They looked authentic – there was nothing about them that looked pirated. But even if they were pirated, would buying a few DVD's be a big deal?
| Should the students: |
| |
|
Votes |
Ratio |
| Buy $1 DVDs. There's no obvious evidence that they're pirated, and most things are generally much cheaper in China than in the U.S. |
|
24 |
18% |
| Don't buy $1 DVDs. Assume the price means they're too good to be true. |
|
110 |
82% |
| 134 votes
total |
|
Could it be OK
to drink alcohol while on the trip? When in Rome...
Before they left for the mission, the student ambassadors signed a pledge that they would not drink alcohol while on the trip. They have discovered, however, that each night's dinner with the delegation our Chinese hosts offer many toasts with wine or other alcoholic beverages. In fact, at Chinese banquets, toasting is mandatory. In some cases, for the initial toast, the host says "gan bei," meaning "bottoms up" and all guests are expected to drain their glasses. (While people are not expected to drain their glasses for subsequent toasts, it is considered more respectful.) Culturally, drinking is an important part of Chinese entertaining, and it is considered proper for hosts to encourage people to drink. There is no drinking age in China, so the students have been served alcohol along with everyone else at their table. As they stick to their pledge, the students have been receiving disapproving looks from their Chinese hosts.
| Should they: |
| |
|
Votes |
Ratio |
| Continue to refuse to drink alcohol, knowing that by making their toasts with water or soda they risk offending their hosts? |
|
35 |
48% |
| Participate in toasts with moderation, taking small sips of what's served, and break their pledge (and U.S. underage drinking laws)? |
|
38 |
52% |
| 73 votes
total |
|
All work and no play?
The student ambassadors have a rigorous schedule. Every morning they're
expected to attend briefings for their "thread," then attend related events
and tours in the afternoons. The Governor is expecting the students to
report on these activities. Each evening, there is a mass dinner for the
larger delegation. Between this schedule and the need for students to write
their journals and capture videos, there has been no time for the students
to shop and "experience" their surroundings. They don't want to be rude to
their hosts or to the delegation, but they think this is important, too!
| Should they: |
| |
|
Votes |
Ratio |
| Stick to the schedule and do their job like everyone else on the mission? |
| 13 | 6% |
| Take turns playing "hooky," 1-2 students per day? |
|
146 |
63% |
| Bring up their concerns with a delegation leader and ask if they can be excused from certain functions at the risk of having this request turned down? |
 |
72 |
31% |
| 231 votes total |
|
How do we respond to the threat of terror?
Practically on the eve of departure, our delegation team learned about a warning issued by the U.S. Embassy in Beijing about a possible terror threat by Islamic extremists concerning hotels in China for sometime over the course of the next week. (See full alert below). Members of the delegation and your ambassadors will be staying in 4-5 star hotels, making them potential targets.
Though the warning was cancelled the next day, we had some interesting discussions about whether or not the student ambassadors should even go on this mission.
| We'd like to ask you, if this terrorist warning had remained, do you think the student ambassadors should be accompanying the Governor on this mission? |
| |
|
Votes | Ratio |
| Yes | |
19 | 48% |
| No |
|
21 | 53% |
| 40 votes total |
|
Should the Student Ambassadors bring gifts?
Initially, the Student Ambassadors thought that it would be good manners to bring a gift for one of the important dignitaries they’ll meet in China, something akin to giving a gift to the host of a party. But now they’re having second thoughts. In the Chinese business world, the gift might easily be interpreted as subtle bribery. The students are worried that their polite gesture might be misunderstood and seen as offensive.
How would you handle the problem? Read this article
on gift-giving etiquette and then, based on what you learn, give the Student Ambassadors your advice.
| Should they: |
| |
|
Votes | Ratio |
| Not bring a gift, because their motivations could be misinterpreted. | | 35 | 21% |
| Bring a gift, because it is the well-mannered thing to do. | | 129 | 79% |
| 164 votes total |
|
|
